The best thing I bought this year: a portable mechanical keyboard

The author recently purchased a portable mechanical keyboard, the NuPhy Air60 V2, which has become an indispensable part of their writing routine.
The keyboard features heaviest tactile Moss switches and a low-profile design that provides a delightful typing experience, even for someone who is not a connoisseur of mechanical keyboards.
The author appreciates the keyboard’s portability, as it can be paired with three devices and comes with a 2.4GHz wireless dongle, making it easy to switch between their personal laptop, work laptop, and e-reader.
The NuPhy Air60 V2 has become a go-to tool for the author’s writing sessions at home and on-the-go, including when bartending, as it provides a distraction-free typing experience and is comfortable to use in various settings.
Although not perfect, with some minor drawbacks such as a cramped 64-key layout and shallow angle, the NuPhy Air60 V2 has proven to be a wise investment for the author’s writing routine, providing a satisfying typing experience that they look forward to using every day.

As a writer, I take the tools of my trade relatively seriously. I’m not crazy enough to drop $3,600 on a keyboard, but I also find typing on a MacBook for extended periods of time deeply unsatisfying — and distracting. So this spring, I started looking into distraction-free writing setups, which included an e-reader / writer and a mechanical keyboard.

I started with the Boox Palma 2 because its E Ink screen and limited connectivity could make it a solid distraction-free solution if paired with a good keyboard. After a lot of research, the keyboard I settled on was the NuPhy Air60 V2, with the company’s heaviest tactile Moss switches and the gorgeous NuFolio case in “nostalgic tan,” which is really more of a bold yellow.

Now, I am no connoisseur of mechanical keyboards, but I find the Air60 V2 to be delightful to type on. Its low-profile keys don’t have the same travel and feedback as my regular keyboard or my vintage IBM Model M, but it is still an enormous improvement over my MacBook’s scissor switch keyboard. The Moss switches offer decent-enough thock, but they’re not so loud that I would avoid using the keyboard in public. It might be a bit much for a quiet cafe, but I’ve sat and worked on articles and short stories while seated at a bar and definitely didn’t feel self-conscious about it.

The ability to pair it with three devices means I can move the NuPhy between my personal laptop, my work laptop, and the Boox with ease. It also comes with a 2.4GHz wireless dongle, but I’ve had little need for it.

I frequently bring the Air60 with me to get some writing done on quiet nights when I’m bartending. (Come see me at Flagship Brewery Tuesdays and Thursdays.) If I need to use my laptop, the Air60 is designed to fit perfectly over a MacBook keyboard while leaving easy access to the trackpad. But more often I’ll bring the Palma 2. The NuFolio acts as a stand as well as a keyboard cover, and the Palma’s flip case hangs perfectly over the top, creating a nice little self-contained writing setup that is ideal when I don’t want (or need) access to the internet.

I even turn to it at home sometimes. When I decided to start writing fiction again for the first time in nearly 20 years, I installed Obsidian on the Palma and, paired with the Air60, it became my go-to. As someone who frequently relies on timers to stay on task, I found the NuPhy and Palma a panacea for my attention struggles. Part of that is because I actually look forward to typing on the Air60. The feel, the sound, even the color scheme are all deeply satisfying in a way that no laptop keyboard could ever be.

It’s not a perfect solution. The 64-key layout is great for portability, but it can be a bit cramped — I make a few more errors typing on the Air60 than I do on a more generous keyboard. And its shallow angle can be a bit uncomfortable for extended periods of sitting at a desk. But it’s actually perfect with a standing desk (or a bar) or even while resting in your lap.

I wasn’t sure that the NuPhy was going to be a wise use of my limited funds when I bought it earlier this year (I was just over a year deep into unemployment and relying on diminishing freelance assignments). But nine months later, it’s become an indispensable part of my writing routine.

NuPhy Air60 V2

Where to Buy:

link

Q. What was the writer’s initial concern when looking for a keyboard?

A. The writer was concerned about spending too much money, mentioning that they wouldn’t drop $3,600 on a keyboard.

Q. Why did the writer prefer typing on a mechanical keyboard over their MacBook’s scissor switch keyboard?

A. The writer found typing on a mechanical keyboard to be more satisfying and less distracting than using their MacBook’s keyboard for extended periods of time.

Q. What type of switches does the NuPhy Air60 V2 have, according to the writer?

A. The NuPhy Air60 V2 has Moss switches with decent-enough “thock” but not loud enough to be self-conscious about using it in public.

Q. Can the NuPhy Air60 V2 be paired with multiple devices?

A. Yes, the keyboard can be paired with three devices, making it easy to switch between different laptops and e-readers.

Q. What is the purpose of the 2.4GHz wireless dongle that comes with the NuPhy Air60 V2?

A. The writer has had little need for the wireless dongle, suggesting that they prefer using a wired connection.

Q. How does the writer use the NuPhy Air60 V2 when bartending on quiet nights?

A. The writer brings the keyboard to get some writing done while working at the bar, and it fits perfectly over a MacBook keyboard if needed.

Q. What software did the writer install on their Boox Palma 2 to enhance their writing experience?

A. The writer installed Obsidian on the Palma, which became their go-to writing setup paired with the NuPhy Air60 V2.

Q. Are there any drawbacks to using the NuPhy Air60 V2, according to the writer?

A. Yes, the 64-key layout can be cramped, and the shallow angle may not be comfortable for extended periods of sitting at a desk.

Q. How has the NuPhy Air60 V2 become an indispensable part of the writer’s writing routine?

A. Despite initial concerns about spending too much money, the keyboard has become essential to the writer’s productivity and satisfaction with their writing experience.